Requested Features (Suggested Priority)
1) OCR for Imported PDFs
Generate an OCR text layer for imported scanned PDFs, making them searchable within GoodNotes

Optional settings:

Language selection

Accuracy-priority vs speed-priority modes

Non-destructive OCR (preserve original images while adding a text layer)

2) Document Conversion (Import / Export)
Convert the following into PDF, then import directly into GoodNotes or auto-create a note:

Word / Excel / PowerPoint / Images / TXT / HTML / ePub

Optional export conversions:

PDF → Word / Excel / PowerPoint

PDF → Image (PNG / JPEG / TIFF / GIF)

PDF → TXT / HTML / RTF / ePub

3) Page & Document Utilities
Merge / Split / Extract / Insert / Replace / Rotate pages

Crop margins / Resize pages / Reorder pages

Compression (quality, resolution, font options)

Convert PDF to a long image

Backgrounds / Watermarks / Headers & Footers

Bates numbering

Password protection

Redaction of sensitive information

Electronic signatures (request, sign, stamp)

4) Batch Processing
Apply OCR, conversion, compression, watermarking, background changes, Bates numbering, cropping, or removal to multiple PDFs at once

Especially useful for exam preparation materials that often contain hundreds or thousands of pages

Show progress, estimated time, and allow cancellation

Save results as copies to protect original files

Why This Matters (User Perspective)
Study and exam PDFs often require repeated OCR, compression, splitting, and conversion.

The current export → convert → re-import workflow introduces friction and increases the risk of file loss or version confusion.

Even a minimal set of conversion and utility tools inside GoodNotes would significantly elevate it from a “note-taking app” to a complete PDF-based learning and workflow hub.

There have already been community requests asking for integrated OCR and processing for imported PDFs, indicating strong and ongoing user demand.

If possible, I kindly ask the team to consider implementing this either as a core GoodNotes feature or as an official add-on / extension.

Content (For Submission)
Hello,
I am a user who relies on GoodNotes primarily for PDF-based learning and professional workflows.

GoodNotes is extremely strong in handwriting and annotation. However, when it comes to preprocessing and converting PDFs for study or work, users must leave the app and rely on external PDF tools, which significantly breaks the workflow.

Currently, GoodNotes supports searching handwritten notes, typed text, and some PDF text. However, imported scanned PDFs without an OCR text layer are not searchable, and GoodNotes does not currently provide a way to apply OCR to already imported PDFs.
As a result, scanned handouts, printed materials, and lecture PDFs cannot fully benefit from GoodNotes’ powerful search capabilities.

Because of this limitation, many users must rely on external PDF apps to:

Create searchable (OCR) PDFs

Convert documents between formats

Compress and organize pages

This workflow requires repeatedly exporting files, converting them elsewhere, and re-importing them into GoodNotes, which is time-consuming and error-prone.

In contrast, other PDF tools (such as UPDF and Wondershare PDFelement) provide a centralized “Tools Hub” that includes OCR, PDF ↔ Word/Excel/PowerPoint conversion, compression, merge/split, watermarks, Bates numbering, headers/footers, and batch processing in one place. The difference in productivity is very noticeable.

For these reasons, I believe GoodNotes would greatly benefit from offering a PDF Conversion & Document Utility feature (“Converter Hub”), either as a built-in capability or as an official extension/partner feature.

Thank you for your time and consideration.